Western MP Blasts Catholic Bishops For Rejecting Ruto’s Donation
On Sunday, November 24, Malava Member of Parliament Malulu Injendi criticized the senior leadership of Kenya’s Catholic Church.
This comes after President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s contribution of Ksh5.8 million was rejected.
Speaking at an interdenominational prayer service in Kericho County, the politician chastised Kenya’s Catholic Church leadership for rejecting Ruto’s gift.
The politician also requested a pardon from the President on behalf of the Church, stating that it was a shame for the Nairobi Archdiocese leadership to refuse the President’s donations.
MP Malulu Injendi: Mr. President, I ask for forgiveness on behalf of the Catholics. pic.twitter.com/zZ5kg06NdU
— tv47ke (@Tv47Newske) November 24, 2024
“We were ashamed and I would like to appeal to our bishops that you cannot do what you did to the President. May God forgive and bless you,” Injendi stated.
According to the politician, it was not appropriate for the Catholic Church to refuse the President’s donations when it still had a lot of financial needs and challenges.
“As you can see, I have my rosary on and that means that I am a Catholic. Mr President, we have a lot of requirements and needs as Catholics including buildings and other things,” he added.
The Amani National Congress (ANC) politician also claimed that the financial help that the Catholic Church used to receive from its headquarters in Rome, Italy, had ended, making it difficult for Christians to fundraise on their own.
Injendi’s remarks are expected to elicit strong criticism from church leaders, particularly about reports that it no longer receives financial backing from its headquarters.
“The help and assistance we used to get from abroad, we no longer do not get it. It is these believers who instead bear the brunt,” the lawmaker added.
“We were surprised after taking you on a tour of our church, it is a shame that you sacrificed your salary only for our bishops to sit and do what they did.”
Injendi was responding to a denial in which Ruto, during a church service on Sunday, November 17, presented Ksh600,000 to Soweto Catholic Church in Nairobi for choir members and Ksh2 million to build a priest’s house.
The Head of State also committed to provide an additional Ksh3 million, which would be transferred to the church’s account to purchase a church bus.
During the event, Governor Sakaja contributed Ksh200,000 to the same church.
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However, Bishop Philip Anyolo of the Nairobi Archdiocese issued a stern statement saying that the donations would not be acknowledged.
“These funds will be refunded to the respective donors. Furthermore, the promised additional Ksh3 million for the construction of the Fathers’ house and the donation of a parish bus by the President is now declined,” Bishop Anyolo.
Bishop Anyolo stated that the gifts made by the two senior government officials violated the Public Fundraising Appeals Bill 2024.
According to the Bill, anyone who solicits or receives money or a benefit makes a fundraising appeal, whether the representation is direct or indirect.
Western MP Blasts Catholic Bishops For Rejecting Ruto’s Donation
